Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part VI

[njdevils1982]

Dillon, Kovacevic and Pesce were not only great addition, they are exactly what this team needed. Then the late 2024 addition of Allen and then going out getting Markstrom....

There's always going to be problems when you are picking up someone else's sloppy seconds. But I think that was absolutely the best solution possible for this team ...

Now considered this:

Last year we were 26th in the league in Goals Against per game.

This year, we are currently 5th best

I mean there are the receipts. Fitz handling of the defense this season has been a smashing success. He addressed the issues and it led to positive results....the offense failed. I don't think anyone expected that?

on pace for one less goal than 21-22 season. need more

 

[britdevil]

Dillon, Kovacevic and Pesce were not only great addition, they are exactly what this team needed. Then the late 2024 addition of Allen and then going out getting Markstrom....

There's always going to be problems when you are picking up someone else's sloppy seconds. But I think that was absolutely the best solution possible for this team ...

Now considered this:

Last year we were 26th in the league in Goals Against per game.

This year, we are currently 5th best

I mean there are the receipts. Fitz handling of the defense this season has been a smashing success. He addressed the issues and it led to positive results....the offense failed. I don't think anyone expected that?

I'll give you Kov and Pesce. Good gets.

Dillon f***ing sucks though. Started the season ok enough, but he's been crap for the last 30+ games. Routinely playing on the worst pair, can't make a first pass for the life of him, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn when given enough time to shoot. Not even as physical as first advertised.

This will be yet another contract that ages poorly before the ink was dry.

 

[It Takes 2 To Tango]

I'll give you Kov and Pesce. Good gets.

Dillon f***ing sucks though. Started the season ok enough, but he's been crap for the last 30+ games. Routinely playing on the worst pair, can't make a first pass for the life of him, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn when given enough time to shoot. Not even as physical as first advertised.

This will be yet another contract that ages poorly before the ink was dry.

It’s too bad about Dillon. I liked his game in Winnipeg. That 3rd year is the real bugger about the contract. If it was 2 years it’s whatever. He was good enough prior to Christmas and was a physical force at times and the guys fed off that.

Overall I get the vision on D but Fitz seems to have overcorrected a bit. Siegs, Kovy, Pesce, Dillon, and Dougie are 5 of the starting dmen when healthy. None of them are fleet of foot. Dougie is very good in breakouts and transition and still provides good O. Luke is on an island in being able to skate us out of trouble. That is a low key problem and I think teams really keyed on that as the season wore on.

In an ideal world you’d have a more capable skater next to Dougie. Wouldn’t have to be a big offensive producer but someone who can cover for the wandering he does.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Fitz had arguably the best summer for all GMs.

Winning the summer is the kiss of death bro

 

[britdevil]

It’s too bad about Dillon. I liked his game in Winnipeg. That 3rd year is the real bugger about the contract. If it was 2 years it’s whatever. He was good enough prior to Christmas and was a physical force at times and the guys fed off that.

Overall I get the vision on D but Fitz seems to have overcorrected a bit. Siegs, Kovy, Pesce, Dillon, and Dougie are 5 of the starting dmen when healthy. None of them are fleet of foot. Dougie is very good in breakouts and transition and still provides good O. Luke is on an island in being able to skate us out of trouble. That is a low key problem and I think teams really keyed on that as the season wore on.

In an ideal world you’d have a more capable skater next to Dougie. Wouldn’t have to be a big offensive producer but someone who can cover for the wandering he does.

I won't sit here and lament the loss of Graves, Marino and Severson. These guys also had huge warts in their game.

But all three are olympic figure skaters in comparison to the replacements. Our transition game was immaculate, it's now non-existent.

People who jump on this post. I realise the previous three were shit in their own right, but they formed part of an identity. That identity no longer exists.

Listening to Arniel on the pre-game last night was eye opening. This team is living on its reputation from 22-23. They aren't good in transition, they aren't fast and they certainly do not "skate circles around the offensive zone". It's just not their game anymore.

I don't even think we have an identity anymore. I couldn't describe it to you that's for sure. It's not a physical grinding forecheck. It's not neutral zone transition. There just isn't one. They are turtle once they have a lead? They rely on top 4 forwards? Really good special teams? This isn't an identity.

 

[JimEIV]

I'll give you Kov and Pesce. Good gets.

Dillon f***ing sucks though. Started the season ok enough, but he's been crap for the last 30+ games. Routinely playing on the worst pair, can't make a first pass for the life of him, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn when given enough time to shoot. Not even as physical as first advertised.

This will be yet another contract that ages poorly before the ink was dry.

Kovacevic and Pesce are two RHD and there was a very real need for a LHD that could kill penalties. It's the only reason that we saw so much of Smith in 2024. Dillon is two steps up from Smith and a very good replacement.

He's currently our #1 PKer in ATOI and we have an excellent penalty kill, ranked 7th in the league today.

 

[JimEIV]

I won't sit here and lament the loss of Graves, Marino and Severson. These guys also had huge warts in their game.

But all three are olympic figure skaters in comparison to the replacements. Our transition game was immaculate, it's now non-existent.

People who jump on this post. I realise the previous three were shit in their own right, but they formed part of an identity. That identity no longer exists.

Listening to Arniel on the pre-game last night was eye opening. This team is living on its reputation from 22-23. They aren't good in transition, they aren't fast and they certainly do not "skate circles around the offensive zone". It's just not their game anymore.

I don't even think we have an identity anymore. I couldn't describe it to you that's for sure. It's not a physical grinding forecheck. It's not neutral zone transition. There just isn't one. They are turtle once they have a lead? They rely on top 4 forwards? Really good special teams? This isn't an identity.

The bolded part...you just described Jack and Bratt's game to a T.... everyone else not so much but those two really were our bread and butter this season.

 

[Zippy316]

I won't sit here and lament the loss of Graves, Marino and Severson. These guys also had huge warts in their game.

But all three are olympic figure skaters in comparison to the replacements. Our transition game was immaculate, it's now non-existent.

People who jump on this post. I realise the previous three were shit in their own right, but they formed part of an identity. That identity no longer exists.

Listening to Arniel on the pre-game last night was eye opening. This team is living on its reputation from 22-23. They aren't good in transition, they aren't fast and they certainly do not "skate circles around the offensive zone". It's just not their game anymore.

I don't even think we have an identity anymore. I couldn't describe it to you that's for sure. It's not a physical grinding forecheck. It's not neutral zone transition. There just isn't one. They are turtle once they have a lead? They rely on top 4 forwards? Really good special teams? This isn't an identity.

Exactly, this team has lost all the skating and transition game up and down the lineup that made them effective in 22-23.

Last year the team had depth issues and terrible goaltending that sunk the team, but Fitzgerald overcorrected by adding way too many physical guys that completely ruined the teams identity.

Did this team need to be complimented by some more physical players? Absolutely. However, it should’ve been done by maintain that speed and transition identity and Fitzgerald totally missed the mark there.

At this point, especially with the defense, the Devils are kinda locked in to what they have. This is going to be a team with a heavy defensive blue line that isn’t the best in the transition game. If we’re going to play this style, Fitzgerald’s priority should be on getting forwards who can finish chances. This entire team is high volume, poor finishers forwards which you can’t afford when you build a team this way.

 

[RNCDevil]

I'm pulling the injury card.
- 2024/2025 Siegs
- Hamilton for whatever defensive warts he has
- Luke Hughes - two-way dominance in general with the occasional gaffe
- Jack Hughes - one-way dominance with the more than occasional gaffe
- Palat, Haula, Noesen Lazar - cratering and looking injured (Palat chasing Quinn was incredibly sad to see).
- Cody Glass - the only player that seems to be able to hang with the dynamic players

That's a lot of losses since the New Year. We were calling Fitz, Fitz-magic. He's secured some very team friendly deals. Noesen and Cotter seemed like great additions to start. It's just too much to overcome.

I just don't know where they go from here. If you think Sily, Casey could boost the defense then maybe turn the Devils into a defensive monster with a counter-attack style. Adapt, because the possession, speed game is done for them.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I'll give you Kov and Pesce. Good gets.

Dillon f***ing sucks though. Started the season ok enough, but he's been crap for the last 30+ games. Routinely playing on the worst pair, can't make a first pass for the life of him, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn when given enough time to shoot. Not even as physical as first advertised.

This will be yet another contract that ages poorly before the ink was dry.

THe thing that bothers me most about Dillon is the physicality has dropped, the aggressive hits, the fighting even. I get he was always going to be a middle or bottom pairing guy, with limited offense, but he was brought here to physically impose

He came out of the gate with a couple of big physical games, that lasted till about November, and now only happens then once in 10 games.

So the whole point of being on this team was to be a bit crazy, physical guy, and he settled into the same old we already had, selectively bruising around.

That fight against gadjovich Florida guy, or whomever that was, was the peak of that.

 

[britdevil]

The bolded part...you just described Jack and Bratt's game to a T.... everyone else not so much but those two really were our bread and butter this season.

Absolutely. Unfortunately "give the puck to Jack or Bratt" isn't a sound strategy.

We know Fitz was in on Stamkos. Thank f*** that didn't happen. I just don't know what this guy sees when he looks at the forward core he's built.

 

[britdevil]

Kovacevic and Pesce are two RHD and there was a very real need for a LHD that could kill penalties. It's the only reason that we saw so much of Smith in 2024. Dillon is two steps up from Smith and a very good replacement.

He's currently our #1 PKer in ATOI and we have an excellent penalty kill, ranked 7th in the league today.

Brendan Smith was ok the penalty kill too.

To me, Dillon doesn't make up enough in the other areas. He's a bigger Smith. Just as old with a shite contract.

I understand the logic. I really do. This roster was baby shit soft and guys like Dillon make you harder to play against. But the dude is a grenade handler, really really poor with the puck on his stick. The forwards are having to do all the heavy lifting in the O zone because your back end offers nothing outside 21 year old Luke Hughes, or a broken Dougie Hamilton (who I'll readily admit, was not good this year).

If they had better forward depth, it would have worked. But they don't and it won't.

 

[britdevil]

THe thing that bothers me most about Dillon is the physicality has dropped, the aggressive hits, the fighting even. I get he was always going to be a middle or bottom pairing guy, with limited offense, but he was brought here to physically impose

He came out of the gate with a couple of big physical games, that lasted till about November, and now only happens then once in 10 games.

So the whole point of being on this team was to be a bit crazy, physical guy, and he settled into the same old we already had, selectively bruising around.

That fight against gadjovich Florida guy, or whomever that was, was the peak of that.

Maybe he's beat up, or maybe mentally he realises that he's 34 years old and can't do that for 70+ games anymore.

I was a Bahl guy and I think they gave up on him too soon. He's doing it now for Calgary and is 10 years younger than Dillon.

 

[britdevil]

Utica were shut out 1-0 last night. Their roster is absolutely tragic.

It's another symptom to add on with Fitz. He either doesn't see it as an issue or is completely ignorant of it.

 

[Billdo]

Kovacevic, Pesce, and Dillon have been for the most part a very successful group of additions.

Allen and Markstrom have obviously been better than what we trotted out last year and have been average, which is what everyone was clamoring for.

I will however say that Fitz did not upgrade the center depth. There is no reason why we needed to rely on Justin Dowling as much as we did this year. We needed at the very least to bring in a veteran PTO to push for the 4C. Ironically a guy like Nosek or Boqvist would've made sense.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Maybe he's beat up, or maybe mentally he realises that he's 34 years old and can't do that for 70+ games anymore.

I was a Bahl guy and I think they gave up on him too soon. He's doing it now for Calgary and is 10 years younger than Dillon.

Probably, it's that, but I hope we get the playoffs to even find out if he'll make a difference.

I liked Bahl but he was the same way, just physical once in like 10 games.

 

[JimEIV]

Kovacevic, Pesce, and Dillon have been for the most part a very successful group of additions.

Allen and Markstrom have obviously been better than what we trotted out last year and have been average, which is what everyone was clamoring for.

I will however say that Fitz did not upgrade the center depth. There is no reason why we needed to rely on Justin Dowling as much as we did this year. We needed at the very least to bring in a veteran PTO to push for the 4C. Ironically a guy like Nosek or Boqvist would've made sense.

Do you see how much we were asking him to "upgrade"....

More center depth, a #1 goaltender, a LHD, a RHD, couple of bottom 6 forwards, maybe another top 6 winger....

At that point, is really just "upgrades"?

We have Luke, Jack, Bratt, Nico, Meier and Dougie and STILL needed 6 or 7 "upgraded" players just to be barely competitive?

Something seems very wrong with this picture.

 

[britdevil]

Do you see how much we were asking him to "upgrade"....

More center depth, a #1 goaltender, a LHD, a RHD, couple of bottom 6 forwards, maybe another top 6 winger....

At that point, is really just "upgrades"

We have Luke, Jack, Bratt, Nico, Meier and Dougie and STILL needed 6 or 7 "upgraded" players just to be barely competitive?

Something seems very wrong with this picture.

It is a lot to ask.

Those guys can only do so much. They've done enough to get us (most likely) to the playoffs. But hard to see anything more than that.

Lazar, Bastian, Dowling, Palat, Tatar, Foote (!?), Legare, Hardman (lol), Halonen. Just junk.

Then you add down seasons for Haula and Mercer, with the new guy Cotter.

It's just not good. It's mish-mash, flim-flam. Whatever you want to call it.

Compare the depth in this organisation to the heavy hitters in the league. It makes painful reading.

EDIT: And this is a cap team, LMAO.

 

[JimEIV]

It is a lot to ask.

Those guys can only do so much. They've done enough to get us (most likely) to the playoffs. But hard to see anything more than that.

Lazar, Bastian, Dowling, Palat, Tatar, Foote (!?), Legare, Hardman (lol), Halonen. Just junk.

Then you add down seasons for Haula and Mercer, with the new guy Cotter.

It's just not good. It's mish-mash, flim-flam. Whatever you want to call it.

Compare the depth in this organisation to the heavy hitters in the league. It makes painful reading.

EDIT: And this is a cap team, LMAO.

Our drafting failed us. Paul Castron has been shit and the only thing we have to hang our hat on since 2016 is Jesper Bratt.

 

[britdevil]

Probably, it's that, but I hope we get the playoffs to even find out if he'll make a difference.

I liked Bahl but he was the same way, just physical once in like 10 games.

Agree. Bahl was asked to do too much, too soon last season. He was out of his depth.

I just don't like how he was chucked into the risky Markstrom trade. I especially don't like reading Calgary fans posts on their boards, wondering why he let him go. He's doing really well for them and could end up playing in this league for another 10 years.

Uhhh. Hopefully the big Russian makes up for this.

 

[Bleedred]

I'll give you Kov and Pesce. Good gets.

Dillon f***ing sucks though. Started the season ok enough, but he's been crap for the last 30+ games. Routinely playing on the worst pair, can't make a first pass for the life of him, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn when given enough time to shoot. Not even as physical as first advertised.

This will be yet another contract that ages poorly before the ink was dry.

Dillon a few years ago would be pretty sweet right now. Dillon is probably fine at the current moment, but it probably won't be long before we have a hitting Brendan Smith at $4 million per year. Hopefully it won't be until year 3.

 

[britdevil]

Our drafting failed us. Paul Castron has been shit and the only thing we have to hang our hat on since 2016 is Jesper Bratt.

Zetterlund and Sharangovich are at least NHL'ers.

Zetts got us Meier which is an upgrade.

Sharangovich got us Toffoli which was a disaster. They managed to re-coup a 2nd from the Jets, only for dumb ass Fitz to spend that pick on Brian Dumoulin.

f*** me.

Boqvist is playing a role on a good Florida team too.

The enigmatic Gritsyuk might go a long way in healing this wound too. So that would be NHL forwards in 17, 18, 19. They got Mercer in 2020.

The real ugly pick is Chase Stillman, talk about a wtf.

 

[JimEIV]

Agree. Bahl was asked to do too much, too soon last season. He was out of his depth.

I just don't like how he was chucked into the risky Markstrom trade. I especially don't like reading Calgary fans posts on their boards, wondering why he let him go. He's doing really well for them and could end up playing in this league for another 10 years.

Uhhh. Hopefully the big Russian makes up for this.

I think letting Bahl go was mistake as well...but let's face it, for his size, skill set and the overall type of player he was, he was soft and non aggressive.

And we were trying to get away from that.

 

[theoptimist]

Brendan Smith was ok the penalty kill too.

To me, Dillon doesn't make up enough in the other areas. He's a bigger Smith. Just as old with a shite contract.

I understand the logic. I really do. This roster was baby shit soft and guys like Dillon make you harder to play against. But the dude is a grenade handler, really really poor with the puck on his stick. The forwards are having to do all the heavy lifting in the O zone because your back end offers nothing outside 21 year old Luke Hughes, or a broken Dougie Hamilton (who I'll readily admit, was not good this year).

If they had better forward depth, it would have worked. But they don't and it won't.

Dillon is a much better player than Brendan Smith and it’s not even close. He is often miscaterogized as a face puncher because half this board can’t do 10 consecutive pushups. Brendan Smith wasn’t a bad player and probably a player you want for the playoffs, preferably a #7-8 defensemen.

I’m glad Dillon is on this team. He dropped the gloves enough times to ask for more help. He’s getting older and it’s just harder to bait a veteran. They’ve probably heard it all. Same goes with Noesen. Too bored to fight with young goons (ie Rempe, etc). We could use more fight from younger players but we don’t have any that fit that profile, maybe Zetterlund, but he’s gone.

GM also never replaced our shadow 1C. Guy who gave it his all every shift and dropped the gloves on a few occasions. Hate how things ended up, but just disgraceful lack of awareness by the president.

Can’t get fooled twice, but our Fitz did, 2023-2025. He needs to get fired. I can guarantee you the next GM to inherit this team will win a cup within 2 seasons. We are that good.

 

[NJDevs26]

Fitz had arguably the best summer for all GMs.

So basically we would have been just as bad as last year without the summer of Fitz…which is pretty damning considering coaching was supposed to be at least half the problem last year along with goaltending.